Sanitary field latrine



Oct. 29, 1946. c. C.- MARTIN 2,410,092

SANITARY FIELD LATRINE Filedsept. 14, 1944 INVEN TOR.

(gig Z2; Mal Zip Patented Get. 29, 1946 CharlesC. Martin, SavannahQGa. j Application September 14,1944, Serial No. 554,141

2 Claims. (01. 4-416) (Granted undcrthe act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April. 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) Ifhe invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to latrines such as are adapted to use by troops on active duty in the field, and has for a primary object the provision of such. a structurewhich is composed of relatively few parts, mainly'formed of undressed lumher, and which may be easily and quickly constructed by unskilled labor such as troops in the field, and yet which is strong and durable in operation.

Another object of the invention consists in the combination of such a structure with a pit; the pit providing the additional function that the structure may be quickly disassembled and dropped in the pit and burned, if desired.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a urinal which is separate and distinct from the latrine proper but which is arranged to discharge directly into the pit over which the latrine structure is mounted.

A still further object of the invention consists in the use of certain refinements in the foregoing structure so that the entire device is rendered highly sanitary.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the latrine structure and pit.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, the numeral I indicates a pit which may be dug in the round at any desired location, and with which the present knockdown and portable latrine is to be associated. As a foundation for the knockdown structure, four planks 2 may be anchored to the ground as by means of stakes 3; the planks being arranged to conform generally to'the horizontal shape and size of the structure to be mounted thereon.

The latrine proper comprises side and end walls 4 and 5 respectively, and these walls may be connected at their adjacent ends by any type of quickly-releasable fastening means such asthe hook and staple 6 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. These hooks serve the purpose of retaining the four walls in their set-up relation, and in order to secure the structure against bodily movement with respect to the pit I, wooden stay strips I 2 e are provided. These strips! may be toed to ,the planks? after the latter have been staked tog-the ground, as by nails 'I'.' r

Thevertical positions of the walls 4 and 5 are assured-by an interlocking arrangement of their upper edges with a seat board 8, and to this end the underside of the boardfi is provided with pairs of spaced cleats Bat'its sides and'ends which are adapted to straddle and'engage the up per edges of the walls, it being understood of course that the pairs of cleats are spaced in accordance with the spacing of the side and end walls respectively.

The seat board 8 is provided with apertures 9, six of these apertures being indicated in the present. embodiment of the invention. Hinged closures I [I are provided for these apertures. A supporting member I I is attached to the seat board 8 behind the hinged closures I0 and extends above and lengthwise from end to end of the seat board. By referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be seen that the supporting member II is spaced from the rear wall of the closure II) when the closures are in a downward position. In order that the closures ID will remain closed at all times when the device is not in use, overhanging stops II are provided which stops are connected to the sides of the supporting member II. The stops are adapted to engage and prevent the closures from being swung to a vertical position. By this means the passage of insects through the apertures in either direction is reduced to a minimum.

Rolls of paper I2 may be conveniently mounted on the seat board 8 as by means of spindles I3, and inverted receptacles such as tin cans or the like may be employed for enclosing the rolls.

Secured to the inner faces of the side walls 4, adjacent the upper edges thereof, are metal baffle plates or chutes I4 which are inclined downwardly and inwardly as indicated in Figures 3 and 4e, and these plates extend over the pit I so as to insure the passage of material thereinto.

Adjacent the knockdown latrine, preferably at one end thereof, an inclined wooden trough I5 is supported at its upper end by a stake or the like I6, provided at its upper end with a notch corresponding substantially with the cross-sectional shape of the trough. The lower end of the trough extends beneath an end plank 2 and opens into the pit l. A sheet metal lining I! may be mounted in the trough I5 so as to extend slightly beyond the inner end thereof, as indicated at if desired, and a screen cover I9 over the trough prevents the ingress and egress of flies and many other insects. Also, a plurality of pebbles or small stones 20 wedged in the trough adjacent its inner end serve a similar purpose.

The portable and knockdown latrine described herein may be formed mainly of undressed lumher, and can be installed by unskilled labor without the use of any special tools. -It may be setup or knocked down with great rapidity, and if not intended to be reused, the p rts may be dropped into the pit and burned, after which a little earth thrown over the ashes will return the spot to its original sanitary condition.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail it will be understood that the present disclosure is intended as illustrative of the invention rather than in any limiting sense, and the appended claims are intended to include any changes in structural details coming within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable and knockdown field latrine including separate end walls and side walls of Wood, latches connecting the adjacent ends of said walls, a seat board, apertures in said seat board and covers for said apertures said covers being hinged to the seat board, a supporting member in back of and spaced from the rear of said hinged covers, said supporting member being attached to and extending above and lengthwise from end to end of the seat board, seat engaging stops attached to and extending outwardly from the side of said supporting member, said seat engaging stops contacting and preventing said covers from remaining in a vertical position when they are raised, spindles extending upwardly from the top of said supporting member for holding a roll of paper, spaced cleats on the underside of the seat board at the ends and sides thereof to straddle and engage the upper edges of the side and end walls, and means for engaging one of the faces of each of the side and end walls at the bottom thereof to'prevent bodily movement of the latrine in a horizontal direction.

2. A portable and knockdown field latrine including separate end walls and side walls, re-

, leasable means for connecting the adjacent ends of said Walls, a seat board, apertures in said seat board and covers for said apertures, said covers being hinged to the seat board, a supporting member in back of and spaced from the rearof said hinged covers, said supporting member being attached to and extending above the seat board, seat engaging stops extending outwardly from the side of said supporting member, said seat engaging stops contactin g'and preventing said covers from remaining in a vertical position when they are raised.

CHARLES 'C. MARTIN. 

